Toilet paper rack



3 9 1933 I H. D. FAIRCHILD 1,917,641

TOILET PAPER RACK Filed May 13, 1932 IN VEN TOR.

WM 41M A TTORNEY.

Patented duty ll,

units STATES HERBERT D. FAIRCHILI),

OF YELM, WASHINGTON TOILET PAPER RACK Application filed May 13,

My invention relates to toilet paper racks and the main object is to provide a rack for holdin a plurality of rolls of paper in such manner that only one roll is accessible for use at a time but as it is exhausted and its core removed another roll will be moved into position for use.

Another object is to provide a device of this kind in a simple, eificient and inexpensive form.

With these and other objects in view the invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein one form of my invention is shown for purposes of exemplification and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view of the rack.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the end gate opened and a spare roll of paper moved outward to position for use.

Figure 3 is an end view of the rack.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing my invention comprises a mounting base 1 along which extends a strip 2 of metal bent upwardly adjacent one end of the base to form the end 3 which is circular in form as shown in Figure 3. A. relatively narrow latch bar or strip 4 extends out over the base 1 towards its forward end from the upper extremity of the end 3 and terminates in a downwardly turned U-shaped hook 5. This latch bar 4- is preferably though not necessarily formed integrally with the end 3 but it is obvious that this bar 4:, the end 3 am. the strip 2 may all be made of separate pieces and secured together if so desired. Side bars 6 are extended forwardly from the end 3 and extend substantially half the length of the base or the rack as a whole. Circular frame bars 7 are secured in spaced relationship on the base 1 and the side bars 6 and the latch bar at are secured. to these frame bars 7 by rivets 8., one bar 7 being disposed adjacent the center of the base 1 and at the end of the side bars 6 while the other is located substantially midway between this bar and the end 3 as shown. These elements constitute a circular frame adapted to en- 1932. Serial No. 611,034.

close one roll of toilet paper and preventaccess thereto in a manner which will be readl'ly understood hereinafter.

An end gate 9 is hinged by the hinge 10 I to the forward end of the base 1 and has a slot 11 adjacent its upper or free end through which one leg 12 of the book 5 on the latch bar 4 may pass. This latch bar 4 is of spring material and is tensioned to normally spring upward in such manner as to draw the legs 12 and 13 of the hook 5 up on either side of the gate 9 above the slot 11 as shown in Figure 1 but by pressing clownward on the latch bar the hook will register with this slot and the gate may be swung downward and outward as shown in Figure 2. A conventional key operated lock 14 may be secured to the gate 9 adjacent the slot 11 in such manner that the lock bolt 15 may be to extended upward beneath the book 5 to prevent the aforesaid downward movement of the latch bar in order to open the gate.

A shaft .16 is secured to a central point on the end 3 and extends therefrom out over the forward end of the base 1 and the gate 9 has an aperture 17 through which the end of this shaft may project when the gate is closed. A spiral or conical expansion coil spring 18 is coiled over the shaft 16 and is secured by its larger end tothe end 3 as by clips 19. The smaller end of the spring 18 carries an end plate 20 having an aperture 21 by means of which it is loosely mounted on said shaft 16.

The rack as herein shown and described is designed to hold two rolls of toilet paper A and B and these rolls are slipped over the shaft 16, the gate 9 being of course first 0;. opened, in such position that the inner roll 13 is protected from use within the frame formed by the bars 4, 6 and 7 while the outer roll A is free for use. In this position the spring 18 is compressed and the gate 9 is locked by the hook 5 and by the key lock 14:. Now when the outer roll A is exhausted its tubular core shown fragmentarily at C will pass through the aperture 17 in the gate 9 which is sufliciently larger than the shaft 16 to form a sufiicient clearance for this purpose. This core C is projected outward by the coil spring; 18 which then moves the inner roll B outward to position for use as shown in Figure 2. The length of the spring 18 when fully expanded is such that its tension or pressure on the roll B is released when the roll has moved to the desired position.

From the foregoing it will be evident the attention necessary from the caretaker or attendant will be greatly reduced inasmuch as a new roll is automatically moved to posi tion for use when the previous roll-has'been exhausted. t will be further apparent that the rack might be adapt-ed to contain or hold more thantwo rolls of papers if desired. \Vhile Ihave herein set forth a certain preferred embodiment of my inventionit is understood that I may vary from the same 3 in minor structural details so as best to construet apractieal device vfor thepurposes intended.,not departing;fronrthespirit of the invention and .within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the kind described, a base, a frame on the base, a shaft eXtended through the frame, an expansion coil spring around the shaft within the frame, and a gate hinged to the base a substantial distance from ,the frame, the said gate having an opening substantially jlarger than the-shaft and adapted to receive the end portion thereof.

2. 3111 a device of .the :kind described, a base, a circular frame on one end of the base, a gate-hinged at the other end of the frame, the said gate having an aperture, a shaft extcnded through the frame and through the said aperture in the gate and. expansion. coil spring .securedzat one end to the ;frame and coiled looselyaroundthe shaft, the said aperture in the gate being-substantially larger than .the shaft whereby to ;permit the passage therethrough. of ,a ,p-aperroll core. urged outward on the shaft by the saidspring.

lntestimony whereof, I, my signature.

HERBERT D. ,FAIRGHILD. 

